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Maths

Ratio & proportion (Higher)

Edexcel 1MA1 R

GCSE Maths (1MA1) · Higher · exam-style practice, examiner-report intelligence and the tools that drill it.

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The topic on one screen

  • Reverse percentages: the increase itself tells you what one percent is worth — £240 from a 20% rise means 1% = £12.
  • Direct proportion: y=kxy = kx. Find kk from the given pair FIRST, then answer the question.
  • Inverse proportion: y=kxy = \dfrac{k}{x} (or kx2\dfrac{k}{x^2} when stated) — same two-step routine: find kk, then substitute.
  • Ratios in context: introduce a multiplier (parts of size mm), turn the ratio into algebra, solve for mm.
  • Combining ratios: scale them to share a common term before merging.
  • Non-calculator arithmetic is part of the mark: 8.46÷0.158.46 \div 0.15 style divisions open the paper — shift both numbers until the divisor is whole.

Where students actually lose marks

Proportion questions are marked on the constant: quoting y=kxy = kx with kk evaluated earns the method even if the final substitution slips — skipping straight to a guessed answer earns nothing.

June 2023 Paper 1H mark scheme (Q13)

In multi-step ratio problems the scheme rewards a clear representation (parts as algebra) — answers with no visible structure gamble everything on the final number being right.

June 2023 Paper 1H mark scheme (Q18)

An incorrectly cancelled final fraction loses the mark even when the uncancelled value was correct — finish, then leave it alone.

June 2023 Paper 1H mark scheme (general guidance)

Try it — exam-style

Medium
ORIGINAL · after June 2023 Paper 1H Q07

1

The price of a laptop increases by 15%. This 15% increase adds £90 to the price. Work out the price of the laptop after the increase.

(3)

(Total for Question 1 is 3 marks)

Easy
ORIGINAL · after June 2023 Paper 1H Q13

2

yy is directly proportional to xx, and y=21y = 21 when x=1.5x = 1.5. Work out the value of yy when x=5x = 5.

(3)

(Total for Question 2 is 3 marks)

Hard
ORIGINAL · after June 2023 Paper 1H Q18

3

3 kg of apples and 2 kg of pears cost a total of 140p. The cost of 1 kg of apples : the cost of 1 kg of pears =1:2= 1 : 2. Work out the cost of 1 kg of pears.

(3)

(Total for Question 3 is 3 marks)

Medium
ORIGINAL

4

yy is inversely proportional to the square of xx, and y=4y = 4 when x=3x = 3. Find yy when x=2x = 2.

(3)

(Total for Question 4 is 3 marks)

Questions are written in the style of past Edexcel papers (source shown on each) — never copied from them.

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Drill it properly

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